THE CANCER CAMPAIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21020, 8 May 1930, Page 3

THE CANCER CAMPAIGN

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND DIVISION. • REVIEW OF WORK COMPLETED^ PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE. A meeting of- the General Committee, subscribers, and others interested in the Otago and Southland Division of the Cancer Campaign Society was held in the University Club rooms yesterday afternoon, fair Louis Harnett (chairman of the committee) presided, and there was a moderate attendance. Sir Louis Barnett gave n resume of \yhat had been done in the past, and outlined the plans for future developments. He stated that the British Empire cancer campaign wae launched six years ago in London under the presidency of the Duke of York, and research and publicity work were at once entered upon with enthusiasm, thanks to the generous financial support accorded by a sympathetic public. One point that was definitely emphasised was the urgent necessity for the establishment 01 well-equipped radium departments in all base hospitals, and it was largely because of that recommendation that the appeal to the citizens of Otago and Southland for funds to buy additional radium was made a few years ago. As a result of this radium appeal sufficient money was contributed to provide all the radium facilities at the Dunedin Hospital necessary for the adequate treatment of cancer cases in Southland as well as Otago. There was, unfortunately, a hitch in tke negotiations between the Government and the Southland and Otago Hospital Boards, the details of which it was not necessary to go into just now. Suffice it to say that not until this year had it been possible for the Dunedin Hospital to obtain the use of the Southland fund, nOw amounting with subsidy to about £9OOO, for the purchase of the full amount of radium required, and consequently there had been delay _in developing the radium department in such a way as to cater adequately for the needs of the whole of Otago and Southland. Now, however, this difficulty was settled—the Dunedin Hospital was to have the use of the Southland fund, and in all probability of a North Otago fund, amounting, with subsidy, to some £l2oo— large addition to the radium supply had been ordered, and very soon the. radium department would he brought fully up to modern standards. They would then be in the fortunate position of having a wellequipped radium department to serve Otago and'Southland without the necessity of calling on the funds of the Cancer Campaign for any part of its equipment, for the radium fund was contributed long before the formation of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer CamSTlie NeW' Zealand branch was _ id last year, stimulated into being by tho inspiring addresses of a distinguished surgical visitor from England (Mr Sampson Handley), noted specially for his scientific work in connection with cancer. The New Zealand branch was an incorporated sodety. 1 Its patron was his Excellency the Governor-General, its chairman Dr J. S. Elliot, of Wellington, in which town the office of Mr E. Darroch, the secretary, was located. It had a Central Committee on which each centre was equally represented, and each centre was directed to form a division with general finance imd research committees and to appeal to the public for funds. The Otago and Southland' division, after carefully considering its necessities, -appealed for £25,000, and already about £15,500 had been donated and the cash in nand invented. This amount included the North Otago contribution, and to it would be added in due course the result of the anfcal that w-a 8 shortly to.be organised in nvercargill, and of the further appeal that was to he made amongst those of their own citizens who have not yet subscribed. The funds, of the cancer campaign were also likely to be materially benefited later on in the year by the philanthropic efforts of that very generous body, the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association. The Government, in addition to subsidising radium funds to the extent of £SOOO in each centre, had promised assistance for research if private donations prove inadequate. It was worth noting, too, that the University of Otago had a separate endowment of its own available for cancer research. This did not amount to a very large sum at present. He thought the total was now only in the neighbourhood of £IBOO, but there were bright _ possibilities of considerable increase in the near future. This university fund, while under separate control, would naturally be administered in co-operation with the funds of the cancer campaign. Both the university and the Otago Hospital Board had indicated their desire to assist in every possible way the humanitarian efforts of the cancer ’ campaign. Up to the present the cancer campaign had been chiefly concerned with two ob-jects-—(a) the raising of funds; and (2) tliG' formation of cancer clinics in each main hospital. Now, with the arrival of Dr Begg upon the scene, a great forward movement was to be made. Within the next week or two a medical and research committee with representatives from all centres, would meet in Dunedin to plan out a comprehensive scheme of definite action in the following directions;—X. Laboratory work, including the study of some of the many scores of problems associated with the causation, nature, bio-chemical reactions, prevention, and treatment of cancer. The bulk of this work must be done in Dunedin under the superintendence of Dr Begg, 2. Clinical work, including the individual and collective study of cancer cases occurring in this Dominion, whereby much valuable information can be obtained dealing with causation, predisposing causation, the influence of factors peculiar to the people of these islands, shch as diet, the eating and drinking ot unduly hot things, occupation, climate, environment, chronic irritations, and so on; and whereby also the most successhil methods of diagnosis and of treatment can be standardised and put into general practice. 3. Radiological work, including the standardisation of radium and X-ray departments in the four main centtes as regards accommodation, equipment, including emanation outfit where thought desirable, personnel and protection of workers. 4. Publicity work, whereby the people, both lay and medical; can be kept informed on all matters concerning cancer that it is important they should know. 5. The financial allocations to he recommended to the Central Committee as necessary for the purposes here indicated. The division wag fortunate in its committees. The Finance Committee had done, aoid was still doing, an immense amount of useful work, and he felt confident that they would get the same zealous and valuable service from the Medical and Research Committee. They were fortunate, too, in having such a capable business secretary and such a generous supporter of the work as Mr W. E. C. Reid, and he knew, too, that they were all very grateful to the proprietors and and editors of the daily papers for the splendid support they had given to this great humanitarian movement. In conclusion. Sir Louis Barnett called upon Dr A. M. Begg to deliver ait address. He mentioned that Dr Begg had had a long experience in cancer re* search work in one o£ the famous laboratories of the world. / DR BEGG’S ADDRESS. Dr Begg stated that cancer was not a new disease, its existence having been known for at least 3000 years. He went on to deal with the various theories propounded in connection with the disease since 1300 n.o. and explained what had been done in the way of research work. Dr Begg then proceeded to give an outline of the proposed plans for the future. Ihe first plan suggested was a statistical inquiry with the object of finding out the ordinary incidence of cancer. If they found that out they might be able to take steps to avoid predisposition to the disease. The be-all and end-all in the treatment of cancer was to take it in hand early. It was very important that once calmer had been treated by surgery or radium the patients should pay regular visits to the clinic. Such a course seemed troublesome, perhaps, when there was no sign of the disease, but it should be borne in mind that cancer had a habit of recurring, and this proposal was in the patients own interests. Once cancer had been treated those in charge of the clinic would be on the watch for its reappearance and would be able to deal with it immediately if a recurrence took place. 1 Speaking of experimental work. Dr Begg said they had been promised assistance

fcrt 10 laboratories at Home. In P™IKd,ln.tl??r® 1 Kd , ln . tl ?? r ® °nly a small labora- \ ut at did not mean that good ' f was impossible. Research in treatTverl hnoi d n f be carne , d out here with ®^if h ° P n °f. kooause of the excellent collections of tumours they had to work upon. Ihe actual effect of radium d'soa.so was an interesting study. At Sfri n"f man u < ? nßos tre ated with radium did not result m complete cures.' Cancer was too recumne for that, but there for unate 6 rn d ? al t - he * 0 ™- They were fortunate to-day m having a clearlvdefined problem to work upon. The cure Iz, C w c r woul , cl yot be found, and, a] i t le past bad produced nothing sensat ona! or spectacular, a great dell of valuable work had been done. They could do no more than their best, but he could assure hi ß hearers that the very be S '°™" d * u as carried by acclamation.